SUMMIT - Townhouse development on Franklin Place is one step closer to becoming a reality, following the approval of an ordinance by the city’s Planning Board.

A proposal has come from the developer of the Infiniti lot, along with property on the south side of Franklin Place, for a cluster of condominiums.

But, as Planning Board Attorney Clifford Gibbons pointed out, the discussion of the ordinance was not a hearing for a specific application.

Attorney Joseph Steinberg, representing the developer Peter Liebman, said, “I think we’ve moved down the road on the right path.” He questioned certain aspects of the ordinance, such as “fully landscaped,” referring to a courtyard design and the front door requirement, when the proposal calls for an entrance to the units through a patio. There was also discussion of underground parking and bicycle racks. Development of the area has been in discussion with the Planning Board for the last three years, he noted.

Architect Peter Biber has designed a complex called The Village Courtyard, which was stalled when Common Council rejected a previous ordinance amendment relating to the R5 zone. The area is considered a transition zone, with commercial establishments on Summit Avenue and single family homes lining much of Franklin Place.

Several of Steinberg’s concerns were resolved by City Planner Eileen Banyra, who said wording could be adjusted to accommodate the developer.

Once amendments are made to the ordinance, it is expected to go to Common Council at the Tuesday, May 18, meeting.

The board also discussed traffic patterns in the vicinity of Franklin Place, Summit Avenue and Union Place.

City Engineer Andrew Hipolit proposed right turns only from the south side of the divider on Union Place heading toward Summit Avenue and no left turns from the north side of the divider onto Summit Avenue. He also proposed right turns only from Franklin Place to Summit Avenue.

Hipolit said the intersection at Summit Avenue and Broad Street is one of the busiest in the city. Traffic counts were made from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. He noted that Summit Avenue is a country road, 350 feet from Broad Street and 500 feet from Springfield Avenue.

“The biggest disruption is the 10% of left turns from the side streets,” he said. He added for less than $2,000 the city could install signs and remove some of that backup. Hipolit emphasized that this would be a temporary placement of signs to observe their effectiveness.

Some Planning Board members questioned the impact this would have on Hobart Avenue and other side streets near Franklin Place.

But Hipolit pointed out there have been a total of eight accidents near that portion of Summit Avenue. “If we take out two or three turns, we can reduce those accidents,” he said.